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A little canoe with no name, but full of family stories
Built by an Arts et Métiers engineer in the 1950s, this pram was originally intended for family fishing on the beaches of Douarnenez. Built in a garage in Noisy-le-Sec, its length (it's actually a 2.40 m Sprat) was limited by the size of the family workshop.
A traditional boat, a symbol of family heritage
Designed to be used every summer for vacations in Brittany, the little boat quickly became a tender for the wooden Cap Corse built by the same grandfather. It was then used to disembark on the shore, or to reach the anchorage at the port of Le Rosmeur.
Thirty years in a Douarnenez basement
This sail-oar was stored for a long time in a cousin's basement in Douarnenez from 1993, protected from damp and bad weather. This discreet conservation has preserved its original fittings, mast and structure. The boat has never changed hands, which explains its relatively good condition at the time of recovery.
Restoration work resumed at the AP Yachting shipyard
Finally, it was Ronan the grandson, now a father, who recovered the canoe in 2023 and came up with the idea of saving this family heirloom. Living near Tours, he imagined it as an introduction to sailing for his 9-year-old daughter, who was about to embark on her first sailing course. Lacking time, he entrusted the restoration work to Antoine Potier of the AP Yachting yard. The bottom and transom were replaced, and a laminate was laid under the hull to ensure watertightness. Everything was sanded and then varnished or painted. The restoration retains as many original parts as possible.
New sails and custom roofs for a mixed-use program
The Tarot sailmakers not only produced a custom sail, but also an awning to protect the rigging. A transport cover is also provided to protect the hull. The boat can be sailed both on inland waters and at sea. Bleuenn will be transported on a trailer, like a small dinghy. The aim is to take part in the Douarnenez maritime festival in 2026.
Finishing touches still to come before launch
Before the fourth generation can take to the water for the first time, a few parts still need to be completed: the daggerboard, the rudder and a thwart. But the pram is already ready to float. A colorful resurrection for a canoe that embodies the living memory of a boating family.
" The name Bleuenn, which means "white flower" in Breton, was chosen by a multi-round family vote. A way of continuing a story that spans generations and seas "says Ronan.
